we'll find a way to deal with that, I warrant you! Why, you forget, cousin, Sir John's o' the wrung side, mon!

Manly. I doubt, Sir Francis, that will do you but little service; for, in cases very notorious, which I take yours to be, there is such a thing as a short day, and dispatching them immediately.

Sir Fran. With all my heart! the sooner I send him home again the better.

Manly. And this is the scheme you have laid down, to repair your fortune?

Sir Fran. In one word, cousin, I think it my duty. The Wrongheads have been a considerable family ever since England was England: and, since the world knows I have talents wherewithal, they sha'n't say its my fault, if I don't make as good a figure as any that ever were at the head on't.

Manly. Nay, this project, as you have laid it, will come up to any thing your ancestors have done these five hundred years.

Sir Fran. And let me alone to work it: mayhap I hav'n't told you all, neither

Manly. You astonish me! what, and is it full as practicable as what you have told me?

Sir Fran. Ay, tho'f I say it-every whit, cousin. You'll find that I have more irons i' the fire than one; I doan't come of a fool's errand!

Manly. Very well.

Sir Fran. In a word, my wife has got a friend at court as well as myself, and her dowghter Jenny is naw pretty well grown up——

Manly. [Aside] And what, in the devil's name, would he do with the dowdy?

Sir Fran. Naw, if I doan't lay in for a husband for her, mayhap, i' this tawn, she may be looking out for herself

Manly. Not unlikely.

Sir Fran. Therefore, I have some thoughts of getting her to be maid of honour.

Manly. [Aside] Oh, he has taken my breath away! but I must hear him out.-Pray, Sir Francis, do you think her education has yet qualified her for a court.

Sir Fran. Why, the girl is a little too mettlesome, it's true; but she has tongue enough: she woan't be dash't! Then she shall learn to dance forthwith, and that will soon teach her how to stond still,

know.

you

Manly. Very well; but when she is thus accomplished, you must still wait for a vacancy.

Sir Fran. Why, I hope one has a good chance for that every day, cousin; for, if I take it right, that's a post, that folks are not more willing to get into than they are to get out of It's like an orange-tree, upon that accawnt-it will bear blossoms, and fruit that's ready to drop, at the same time.

Manly. Well, sir, you best know how to make good your pretensions! But, pray, where is my lady, and my young cousin? I should be glad to see them too.

Sir Fran. She is but just taking a dish of tea with the Count and my landlady—I'll call her dawn.

Manly. No, no; if she's engaged I shall call again. Sir Fran. Odsheart! but you mun see her naw, cousin what! the best friend I have in the world !— Here, sweetheart! [To a SERVANT without.] pr'ythee, desire the lady and the gentleman to come down a bit; tell her, here's cousin Manly come to wait upon her.

Manly. Pray, sir, who may the gentleman be?

Sir Fran. You mun know him, to be sure; why, its Count Basset.

Manly. Oh, is it he !-Your family will be infinitely happy in his acquaintance.

Sir Fran. Troth, I think so too: he's the civilest man that ever I knew in my life-Why, here he would go

out of his own lodgings, at an hour's warning, purely to oblige my family. Wasn't that kind, naw?

Manly. Extremely civil-the family is in admirable hands already! [Aside, Sir Fran. Then my lady likes him hugely-all the time of York races, she would never be without him.

Manly. That was happy, indeed! and a prudent man, you know, should always take care that his wife may have innocent company.

Sir Fran. Why, ay! that's it! and I think there could not be such another!

Manly. Why, truly, for her purpose, I think not.

Sir Fran. Only naw and tan, he-he stonds a leetle too much upon ceremony; that's his fault.

Manly. Oh, never fear! he'll mend that every day -Mercy on us! what a head he has!

Sir Fran. So, here they come.

[Aside.

Enter LADY WRONGHEAD and COUNT BASSET.

Lady W. Cousin Manly, this is infinitely obliging; I am extremely glad to see you.

Manly. Your most obedient servant, madam; I am glad to see your ladyship look so well after your journey.

Lady W. Why, really, coming to London is apt to put a little more life in one's looks.

Manly, Yet the way of living, here, is very apt to deaden the complexion--and, give me leave to tell you, as a friend, madam, you are come to the worst place in the world, for a good woman to grow better in.

Lady W. Lord, cousin! how should people ever make any figure in life, that are always moped up in the country?

Count B. Your ladyship certainly takes the thing in in a quite right light, madam. Mr. Manly, your humble servant- -a hem.

Manly. Familiar puppy! [Aside] Sir, your most obedient--I must be civil to the rascal, to cover my suspicion of him.

[Aside.

Count B. Was you at White's this morning, sir?
Manly. Yes, sir, I just called in.

Count B. Pray-what- ―was there any thing done there?

Manly. Much as usual, sir; the same daily carcases, and the same crows about them.

Count B. The Demoivre baronet had a bloody tumble yesterday.

Manly. I hope, sir, you had your share of him.
Count B. No, 'faith; I came in when it was all over

-I think I just made a couple of bets with him, took up a cool hundred, and so went to the King's Arms.

Lady W. What a genteel easy manner he has!

[Aside.

Manly. A very hopeful acquaintance I have made here.

[Aside.

Enter 'SQUIRE RICHARD, with a wet Brown Paper on his

Face.

Sir Fran. How naw, Dick; what's the matter with thy forehead, lad?

'Squire R. I ha' gotten a knock upon't.

Lady W. And how did you come by it, you heedless

creature?

'Squire R. Why, I was but running after sister, and t'other young woman, into a little room just naw: and so with that they slapped the door full in my face, and gave me such a whurr here-I thought they had beaten my brains out; so I gut a dab of whet brown paper here, to swage it a while.

Lady W. They served you right enough; will you never have done with your horse play?

Sir Fran. Pooh, never heed it, lad; it will be well by to-morrow- -the boy has a strong head.

Manly. Yes, truly, his skull seems to be of a comfortable thickness!

[Aside. Sir Fran. Come, Dick, here's cousin Manly-Sir, this is your godson.

'Squire R. Honoured godfeyther! I crave leave to ask your blessing.

Manly. Thou hast it, child-and if it will do thee any good, may it be to make thee, at least, as wise a man as thy father!

Enter Miss JENNY and MRS. MOTHERLY.

Lady W. Oh, here's my daughter too! Miss Jenny, don't you see your cousin, child?

Manly. And as for thee, my pretty dear-[Salutes her.]-may'st thou be, at least, as good a woman as thy mother!

Jenny. I wish I may ever be so handsome, sir.

Manly. Hah, Miss Pert! now that's a thought that seems to have been hatched in the girl on this side Highgate!

Sir Fran. Her tongue is a little nimble, sir.

[Aside.

Lady W. That's only from her country education, Sir Francis. You know she has been kept too long there, so I brought her to London, sir, to learn a little more reserve and modesty.

Manly. Oh, the best place in the world for it!every woman she meets will teach her something of it. There's the good gentlewoman in the house looks like a knowing person; even she, perhaps, will be so good as to show her a little London behaviour.

Mrs. M. Alas, sir, miss won't stand long in need of my instruction !

Manly. That, I dare say-What thou canst teach her, she will soon be mistress of.

[Aside.